Practice rack for bombs



Nov. 2, 1943.

R. l. MARKl-:Y

PRACTICE RACK FOR BOMBS Filed Jan.V 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l A T TORA'EY Nov. 2, 1943. R. l. MARKEY PRACTICE RACK FOR BOMBS Filed Jan. 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIC-3.3.

25 26 21S-4U INVENIOR.

USCOE I. MAR/ 57 BY i.

ATTORNEY' Patented Nov. 2, 1943 PRCTICE RACK-Fon Y Roscoe I. Markey, East Orange, N. J. ,"r"a'ssigvnor to,k

' Pollak Manufacturing -jC0mliany,'

N.V JL, a corporation of Jersey Application January 5, 194s, serial'No. 171,386 x leelaims. (c1. 35%.255`

' The invention has-todo with a practice rack for bombs and has for its'principal object lto provide a simple, rugged, light Weightan-d iinexpensive structure .to be :used by. students `or beginners to develop accuracyin dropping-bombsjfrom airplanes. Bomb racks or shackles used in4 actual engagement are expensive and somewhat, delicate in construction and might easilybe put4 out of order in practice work. Another important fact is vthat appliances-ion thefbomb racks and shackles. After .thatfhasfbeenlearned he takes his lessons for accuracyl .inV sighting and releasing. In actual practicegindropping loaded bombs all the-safety v`appliances-are manipulated and setlong `prior to the time .whemthe ltargets are to be sighted and the bombs released.` The main purpose of the presentV inventiony isto provide apractice rack for bombs by means of which the student learns accuracyfink sighting :and releasing. The rack almost in its'entirety is made oflight weight sheet metal,

handled 'with impunity-'while the planeis in n transit and' easily and, quickly positioned in the bomb rack made in accordance with the present invention. Another advantage of the'present invention is to provide a means inthe bomb rack forV closing the shell of the airplanefrom the sli stream during the reloading operation. g Other objects and advantages will become apparent asjthis specification proceeds. Referring to the drawings forming apartvthereof andgin which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated: 1

Fig 1 is a side elevation of the bomb rack;v

Fig. 2 is a top plan View; Y Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on a larger scale with intermediate parts broken out; and` .Fig 4 is a cross sectional-view taken? online 4*-4 ofFig..3.

' Referring again to said drawings* it willbe noted the device comprises. a ybox-like structure into which the bomb is laid. .It is customaryY in bomb `racks used in the iield to suspend the loaded bomb from one or 'more'hooks andto'provide releasing means for opening thehooksto permit the bombs to be dropped, .and in additionnumermeans for dropping the bombarmed orunarmed. As the bombs beingdropped from the practice bomb rack of the present invention are dummyV ous other safety features 'arel provided, including suitablyreinforced, and lends itself to being assembled largely by resistance welding.

f The bodyA is divided into three compartments, vthe bomb compartment 5, mechanism compartment 6, and solenoid compartment 7. The partitions .between these compartments naturally `'function'as reinforcing elements for the body por: f tion; TheV body vportion. is further reinforced VKby 1 anging the lower partthereof yas indicatedat 8 and the lower wings fofwthe flanged regions are resistance welded or otherwise secured :to the shell of the-airplane shown in brokenA lines at Ill in; Fig; 4. lIn the drawings all parts illustrated form the bomb rack proper withthe `exceptionlof :the showingof lthe LVairplane shell indicated in brokenl linesl vin Fig. 4. The body of the bomb Kracklwhich,v 'as heretofore stated, lis of box-'like constructiomfits over a suitable opening in the shell of theplane. Additionalreinforcingmem- `bers I I arev resistance welded `to the side walls and angedfregions of the body/portion. `*The bomb compartment -5 has stops l5 andllli at the forwardvand rear ends, respectively thereof and these stops act to position thebomb and also asadditional reinforcing elements. Y

`The lbomb compartment hasa loading door ,Z

which ishinged toithe body portion at ZI and Ais provided with a catch indicated at 22`in Fig. 2. In loading the rack thislldomy is opened, the bomb placed vinthe fb-mbfcompartment 'and the door closed-.-.1i A V The' bomb issupportedby aV pair of releasable traprldoors 25;'pivotedin-they body portion of the v.bomb-'rack at-26. 'Ihe-fforward ends of the trap doors' have fupwardly extending ears 21 which are 'secured'tomeshing segmental gears 28 and 29. lThe doors are vurged to their open L position by 'springsir 'I f iIn' order-'to maintain Ethe trap doors in their `closed position'to supportfthe bomb the segmental 'gear r29 has avlatch member 30 secured to it In :the closed Vorlockedfposition ofthe doors this latch z memberl rests against the lupper side off a.p in' ,3l which is integral with or formed as'part of the core of a solenoid 32 suitably mounted in the body portion. It will thus be apparent the doors cannot be moved while the latch member 30 is in engagement With the pin 3|.

Immediately upon the solenoid being energized the pin 3| will be Withdrawn from under the latch member and the trap doors will y open under the-urge of the Asprings -33 land .the Weight of the bomb and ,thebomb Willl be dropped. l

Means are provided for closing the trap doors and this means comprises a door closing lever 35 which passes through a suitable aperture in a cover plate 35 for the solenoid and compartments. The lever` 35 isslotted at 3f!` and a shouldered set screwV 38.- lpasses through f vtion for supporting a bomb, a pair of meshing segmental gears secured to said trap doors, solenoid .operated means for locking said trap doors this slot and is threaded into the latch member i and segmental gear 29. When the trap doors are in their open position'as` indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 4 the door closinglever 135f `is grasped and pulled upwardly to close them.

The solenoid 32' is of aconventional' type :in which the pin 31 is spring urged to its outward positionand retracted when the solenoid-v is energized. The end of the l'atcfhfmember 3311s beveled as indicated at 148 i-nFgs. 31 and 4. the "trap, doors are 'being closerlthe` beveled end of the latch member will cam the pin 31 Aout of its wayin order to `permit', the to move to the closed or locked position.

After a dummy bomb'hasbeen dropped-,fthe 'trap doors 25 are closed .as heretofore described.

The loading door 2'0 is'f'openedr ander-rather bomb is positioned inthe rack. during the loading operation While the plan-eis in transit .the shellof the airplane isciosed from the slip stream.

Changesl in' details of construction andarrangements o'f parts such as would occurto :one

skilled in the art are to be `considered as vcomin-g within the spirit of the invention as settorth Vin. the ,appended claims.

position to. support the bomb,l means for releasing ,saidvv locking means so said doors open and the bomb willY be dropped,and` meansv for closing saidd'oors soA that the-bomb wiiibe supported andY the open-ing, inthe shel of' the aircraft will', be closed from thesli'pstream during the reloading operation'.

2. A practice rack forb'mtfs eminem combination a body portion-of box like-construction dimensioned for carrying a single bomb and mounted Wholly- Withinthe aircraft andf` located over anopeningj inv the shell` cf the aircrat, a

loading door' forthe topfside of' said body portion, a pair of" reeasable trap doors pivotedon and closingV the? underside of' said bodyportion for suiziportingy a bomb,ineensV for'fur'gfirig said trap doors to their open position, solenoid!l oper"- ated means housed in sei'clbodyI portion for lockingsaid' trap doors inl thefcl'osed" position.' to support the bombV and' for-releasing said locking means` so saidA doors will openV and fthe bomb will be dropped, and r'nechanical'"means:V for closing 'open position.

in the Yclosed position to support the bomb and ,for .releasing sag-id locking means so said trap doors will open and the bomb will be dropped, and a door closing lever mounted on one of said segmental gears for mechanically closing said Av trap doors.

, 4. A practice rack for bombs having in combination a body portion of box like construction dimensioned for a single born'b and mounted wholly. v`the aircraft and located fover a'nzopening'` in'thelshell of .the aircraft, a

loading door -forthe top side. or said body portion, a pair of releasable trap doors pivoted on and closing the under side ofv said bodyw portion for supporting a bomb, a pair of meshing segmental gears securedtosaid trap doors', ra latch member mounted on 'one vof said segmental gears,

'solenoid operated means cooperating with said latch `'member forI locking said trap` doors 'in the closed position to support the bombA andi for releasinglsaidflockng means soY saidtrap doors Willfopen'and'the lbomb be dropped, and

mechanical means for closing said trap doors.

5. A practice rackfor' bombs in ycombination abody'pbrtion :of box like `construction dimensionec'l-v flor carrying av single bomb and mounted Wholly Within .the aircraft` and located over an opening in the ishelll'of the aircraft, a loading' doorlor thetop side of'saidbody portion, a pair fo; relea-s'able trap doors pivoted on and closingfthe under side of: said body portion for supporting'a bomb, a pairV of meshing segmental gears secured lv tosaid trap doors, a latch member mounted on one of said segmental gears, a 'solenoid pincocperating with said latchmember for locking saidl trap doors inl the closedposition to support the bomb and for releasing said locking 'means so said? trap doors will open and the bomb Will be dropped, and a mechanically operated door closing levermolmted on one :of said segmental gears. i

6'. A practice rack for bombs having inV combination- -a/ body` portion of box' like construction dimensioned for? carrying .a single bomb and mounted Wholly Within the aircraft;v located over an opening in the. shell of: the aircraft, a

loading door,` for the top` sidel of said. body portion, a. pair of releasable trap doors pivot-,ed on and'closing the under sideof ysaid body portion for supporting a, bomb, a pair oi meshingsegmental;` gearsv secured: to: trap doors,r a latch i member moimtedi 'oni one; of. said segmental gears,

solenoid'. operated.' means cooperating with said .latch member for `looking said trap doors in the closed position ,tol support` the bomb and` for releasing" said locking means so said trap doors *RosGoE I- 

